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Alpha Helix definitions

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  • Alpha Helix
    A coiled secondary protein structure stabilized by nearly parallel hydrogen bonds along the backbone, with R groups facing outward.
  • Secondary Structure
    A level of protein organization involving local folding patterns such as coils or sheets, stabilized by backbone interactions.
  • Protein Backbone
    The continuous chain of amino acid residues excluding side chains, forming the structural core of proteins.
  • Hydrogen Bond
    A weak interaction between backbone atoms that stabilizes the spiral conformation of certain protein structures.
  • R Group
    A variable side chain of amino acids that projects outward from the axis in a helical structure to reduce crowding.
  • Axis
    The central line around which a helical protein structure coils, serving as a reference for bond orientation.
  • Right-Handed Helix
    A spiral protein structure with a clockwise twist, noted for its stability and prevalence in natural proteins.
  • Left-Handed Helix
    A spiral protein structure with a counterclockwise twist, rarely found in nature due to lower stability.
  • Steric Hindrance
    Physical crowding of molecular groups that can destabilize protein structures if not minimized.
  • Ramachandran Plot
    A graphical tool mapping backbone dihedral angles, used to identify and distinguish protein secondary structures.
  • Phi Angle
    A backbone dihedral angle plotted on the horizontal axis in structural analysis graphs.
  • Psi Angle
    A backbone dihedral angle plotted on the vertical axis in structural analysis graphs.
  • Amino Acid Residue
    A single unit within a protein chain, contributing to the overall structure and function.
  • Ribbon Diagram
    A visual representation of protein secondary structures, often used to depict helical regions.
  • Cylinder Diagram
    A schematic depiction of helical protein regions, emphasizing their spiral shape and axis.